USA Book News announced the winners and finalists of THE 2015 INTERNATIONAL BOOK AWARDS (IBA) on May 21, 2015. Over 300 winners and finalists were announced in over 80 categories with awards presented for titles published in 2013, 2014 and 2015

Naples, FL, June 10, 2015 – USA Book News announced the winners and finalists of THE 2015 INTERNATIONAL BOOK AWARDS (IBA) on May 21, 2015. Over 300 winners and finalists were announced in over 80 categories with awards presented for titles published in 2013, 2014 and 2015. The top award in the Art category went to Mariano’s World: The Life and Art of Mariano Rodríguez Tormo by first-time author Carmina Rodríguez Villa of Naples, Florida.

Jeffrey Keen, President and CEO of USA Book News, which covers books from all sections of the publishing industry (mainstream, independent, and self-published) said this year’s contest yielded over 1,200 entries from authors and publishers around the world, which were then narrowed down to the final results. “The 2015 results represent a phenomenal mix of books from a wide array of publishers throughout the world,” Keen said.

Mariano’s World, a book about the life and art of a Cuban refugee of the 1960s, was launched just as Cuba became, once again, front-page news throughout the world. Written by the artist’s daughter, one of the “Peter Pan Operation” children, the story still resonates today, every day. It tells of families separated and of whole generations uprooted because of historic and natural events that shape, sometimes destroy, their world. It is a story of loss, but also of hope, as these adaptable and resilient people resettle, reinvent themselves, work hard, educate their children and go on to succeed.

The award-winning book began as a collection of Mariano Rodríguez Tormo’s art, driven by the author’s wish to preserve her father’s body of work. However, as Carmina gathered paintings, ink drawings and caricatures from friends and family for the book; it became evident to her that, through his art, Mariano told his story and the story of his people. Based on this realization, the book evolved into a memoir of the artist’s life as well as a historic and cultural viewpoint of his world, all richly illustrated by the collection of art.

To achieve accurate reproductions of the artwork as well as a beautiful book design, the author enlisted the support of professionals in the fields of graphic design, photography and imaging. The expertise of Kathleen Edwards of Naples Media Group, Inc. was crucial in the design of the book and how the art would be visually presented, as well as in the selection of the best printing specifications and processes. The faithful digital reproduction of Mariano’s art was entrusted to photographer Christine Lindsay of Photographic Arts, Red Bank, NJ; Ahern Printing & Graphics, Manasquan, NJ and HiTek Imaging, Naples, FL.